Contestant Events - Mandatory

Registration/Orientation

As a contestant in International Mr. Leather, you must report to registration/orientation at:

Hyatt Regency
151 East Wacker Drive
Chicago, IL 60601
Thursday, May 22, 2008 at 1:00 PM

Upon arrival, present your Contestant Confirmation Letter. A Contestant Handler will assist you in completing your paperwork. You will be asked to verify specific information used in making your contestant badge, the contest program insert, and contestant address list.

You will meet the IML photographer and make a photo shoot appointment with him. Our photographer will provide you with general and specific information pertaining to your photo shoot.

Contestant orientation will be held immediately following registration. Weekend events will be discussed, and your questions will be answered. Each judge as well as various staff members will be introduced to you.

What you choose to wear for this event is optional. There will be time to socialize with contestants and judges.

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Interview

Contestant interviews are held on Friday, May 23, and Saturday, May 24, 2008. In groups, you will report on the day and time and place specified by your Den Daddy.

Each preliminary-group will be brought to a holding room. Only authorized personnel are allowed in the holding room and interview room, therefore you may not bring anyone with you. Water will be available. You may also bring your own food and liquid.

Your interview is not open to the public.

Each contestant will be interviewed in numerical order.

Each interview will last no longer than 8 minutes.

The judges score your performance. (See scoring system.)

Your choice of attire is optional, and no change of attire is required.

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Opening Ceremonies

The Opening Ceremonies is the first public event of International Mr. Leather. It takes place in the Hyatt Regency's Grand Ballroom on Thursday evening, May 22, 2008. Contestants will be given specific assembly time and location at the Thursday orientation.

The purpose of this event is to introduce the judges and the contestants to the public and for you to pick your contestant number.

You will be lined up alphabetically, walk to the drum on stage, and pick an envelope. Handing the envelope to the MC, walk to the center stage microphone and announce your name, title, sponsor(s), city, and state. The MC will open the envelope and announce your contestant number. Taking your number from the MC, exit the stage where you will be met by staff. After each contestant has picked his number, staff will bring you back on stage in numerical order as a group. This ends the event.

These general guidelines may change, but are presented here to give you an idea of the simple staging. Specific staging instructions will be given at the rehearsal.

Contestants are guided by staff to the event, prepared by staff prior to walking on stage, and met by staff upon exiting the stage.

Your choice of attire is optional. No change of attire is required.

Your contestant number, picked during this event, determines:

Your Den Daddy will advise you where and when to report for your interview before you are dismissed from this event.

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Pecs & Stage Presence

This event is open to the public and will take place in the Hyatt Regency's Grand Ballroom on Saturday evening, May 24, 2008. Contestants will be given specific assembly time and location at the Thursday orientation.

The judges score your performance on stage. (See scoring system.)

The purpose of this event is the presentation of your physique, stage presence, and public speaking ability to the judges and the audience.

As your name is announced you will walk on stage and remain there until all contestants are on stage with you. For your second appearance, you will spontaneously answer a question asked by the MC, and parade the stage when you are done answering. All contestants will be brought back on stage a final time. This will end the event.

These general guidelines may change, but are presented here to give you an idea of the simple staging. Specific staging instructions will be given at the stage rehearsal.

Contestants are guided by staff to the event, prepared by staff prior to walking on stage, and met by staff upon exiting the stage.

You are expected to dress in whatever you believe shows your physique to full advantage. Contestants can plan on a maximum of three changes. Changes of attire are not required.

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IML Contest

The IML Contest will take place at the Hyatt Regency Grand Ballroom on Sunday, May 25, 2008.

We will transport you and your gear to the theater on Sunday afternoon. Contestants will be given specific assembly time and location at the Thursday orientation.

Since you will not be returning to your hotel until late evening, you must pack all your gear prior to departure. You may plan your attire around the following appearances:

  1. Introduction of each contestant (All contestants - your choice of attire)
  2. Announcement of finalists (All contestants - your choice of attire; formal recommended)
  3. Speech (Finalists only - formal full attire)
  4. Physique (Finalists only - jock, shorts, etc)
  5. Announcement of winners (Finalists only - Your choice of attire; formal recommended)

If there are any changes to these appearances, you will be notified at the Thursday orientation.

The theater dressing rooms are located on the second floor, so be prepared to negotiate stairs throughout the contest. If stairs are a problem for you, contact Joey McDonald for special arrangements. Other than translators and interpreters, you may not bring anyone to assist you. Staff is present throughout the contest to assist you.

A complete contest rehearsal takes place at the theater. At this time you learn your placements on stage and run through each stage appearance.

A buffet is served at the theater. Bottled water is available backstage throughout the contest. You are encouraged to bring additional solids and liquids for your private consumption. Remember to bring any medications you may need since you do not return to the hotel until late evening.

No preliminary scores are carried forward. All finalists are judged three times during the contest. See Scoring System.

Each finalist delivers a 90-second speech to the audience on a topic of his choice. A digital countdown clock is visible to you. At 91 seconds the microphone will automatically shut off. The microphone can be removed from its stand. If you do not verbally deliver your speech in English, you have 90 seconds for your delivery, and your interpreter/translator has an additional 90 seconds to verbally deliver your speech in English.

A special location is reserved for contestants who are not announced as finalists and must leave the backstage area. Non-finalists also have an option to sit where they choose.

After the contest, you and your gear will be transported back to the hotel. The winners will be brought back separately.

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